Brake.



PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

L. S. WATRBS.

BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 853,848. PATENTED MAY 14, 1907. L. S. WATRES.

BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1905..

L BEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS 'S. WATRES, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR ()F FIFTY-ONE ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO ROBERT C. ADAMS, OF SORANTON, PEN N SYL- VAN IA.

BRAKE.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, LEWIS S. WATRES, a

citizen of-the United States, residing at 1 into contactby inflation of a flexible collapsible member that preferably is in the form of an annulartube similar to that of a bicycle tire. A fluid under pressure, such as air, or v the exhaust products of an internal combus' l tion engine employed to propel the vehicle,

may bestored in a tank to which the inflatable brake device is connected through a suitable cock under the control of the occupant. The connect-ions from the source of fluid under pressure, or from the valve controlling it, to the inflatable brake member may be flexible and therefore the system is adapted to braking both the leading, as well as the rear wheels, of an automobile. 1n the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of so much of an automobile running gear as is necessary to illustrate this invention: Fig. 2, an enlarged detail view partly in section illustrating the application of this brake device to the front wheel of an automobile: Fig. 3, a section on the line 3, 3, of Fig. 2: Fig. 4, an enlarged detail view of a valve for controlling admission to the inflatable brake members of fluid under ;5 pressure: Fig. 5 illustrates the application of an inflatable brake member applied to a brake strap working against the periphery braking. drum: Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a brake on line 5 -5 in Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a face view of the stationary casing, secured to the-bearing of the shaft of the wheels. Fig. 6 illustrates the application of the inflatable member to the interior of a friction band which is pressed outwardly against the inner v face of a brake flange: Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a brake on line 6" 6 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a face view of the stationary casing, such as used in Fig. 5 Fig. 7 indicates the application of this invention to an ordinary tion :11 view. of the valve devices thereof:

A is the front axle to which is hinged upon or stud axle B upon which is mounted the Specificatibn of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 19,1905. Serial No,- 274,9 46.

horse-drawn vehicle and Fig. 8, a detail sec- Patented May 14,1907.

carrying wheel. vided with a brakeflange 0 fast thereon. Inside this flange and'loose upon the stud axle B is a diskD having aprojecting collar through which the vertical pivot bolt it passes. the axis at a. The disk D isprovided with an annular channel adjacent its periphery in which is fitted an annular three-sided brake shoe E, the open side of which faces the bottom of the oiannel.- Springs 0 attached to the web of the disk ass through apertures in the wall forming t 1e annular channel and engage the brake shoe E so that their reaction tends to withdraw the shoe from contact with the face of flange C. The brake shoe is held against rotation by ribs e upon its periphery which fit in longitudinal channels in the inner face of the outer wall of the channel in which the shoe is seated. Disposed within the brake shoe is an annular inflatable and collapsible flexible tube which may be ofthe construction of a bicycle tire.

This tube is connected by a flexible coupling, pipe G with a box or chamber H communieating through a valve I and pipe J with a tank K.

The tank may be supplied with fluid under I of which, the box H is connected by flexible con ling tubes G. The tubes Gare made of.

suc 1 length as ,to accommodate. the maximum swing of the leading wheels. When the valve I is opened fluid under pressure passes from the tank K to the several inflatable members F. of the brake devices and the brakes are applied simultaneously t all of the wheels. When the valve is allowed to close, the inflatable brake devices are deflated in. an a propriate way. A suitable form of valve or the practice of this invention is shown in Fig. 4, The spindle thereof is normally urged upwardly to close the valve by a spring I and the valve may be opened by downward pressure of an arm I the vertical pivot bolt 0., the wheel bearing i forming part of a pivoted elbow lever which, by means of suitable links and cranks, as

The hub of the wheel is pro- I C and B both therefore swing about v the usual fifth wheel P.

shown, is under the control of a pedal- M adapted to be operated by the driver. The valve stem above the valve is made hollow and is fitted with *a puppet valve I o'penin outwardly so' that when the parts are relieve of the pressure of the arm I the are simultaneously deflated.

The form in which the invention is illustrated is deemed to be practicable and efficient but various other embodiments of the principle of this invention may be devised by those familiar with such matters. I

Fig. 5 shows an ordinary automobile brake drum N surrounded by a brake strap N.

type of rake, the inflatable. member F is laced around the strap andacts, when inflated, to force it into contact with the periphery of the brake drum.

Fig. 6 shows an arrangement the reverse of that indicated in Fig. 5. The inflatable member F is laced within the *expansible brake member which'is forced by it against the inner surface of a braking flange P.

Fig. 7 indicates an ordinary vehicle having Each wheel is vided with the parts C, D, brake shoe an inflatable member. The inflatable members are connected bypipes G, G, with a small compressed air chamber Q into which air may be compressed by means of an ordinary air pump R equipped with a check valve and operated by a treadle R within. convenient reach of the driver until sufficient pressure of the braking surfaces is attained. When the brakes are to be thrown off, the inflatable members thereof are deflated through a valve S actuated by a hand or foot operating arm S under control of the driver.

In Figs. 5, 5 and 5 is shown a type of brake in which the inflatable member F acts,

uppet valve opens and the inflatable mem ers F when inflated,1against the outer surface of contacts N pressing those inwardly against the outer surface of the brake drum. The

contacts N are made as shown in Fig. 5 in' drum. In the application of this invention to that I claim as m invention:

1. The com inationwith the swinging front wheel of a motor-driven vehicle, of a braking surface rotating and swinging with the wheel, a non-rotarv brake shoe also swinging with the wheel and an inflatable brake applying member acting when inflated to bring the shoe and braking surface into operative engagement.

2. The combination with the swinging front wheel of a motor-driven vehicle, of a braking surface rotating and swingiit-g with the wheel, a non-rotary brake shoe also swinging with the wheel, and an ii;-.flatable brake applying member actin g when inflated to bring the shoe and braking surface into operative engagement, a source of fluid under ressure for inflating said member and a flexi le coupling between. such source and in flatable member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

LEWIS S. WATRES.

Witnesses:

GEO. N. GOODSON, J. A. CoYLE. 

